What grade of fuel is recommended for 2003 Ford Focus ZX5?

Question

My husband & I have a 2003 Ford Focus ZX5 with about 38000 miles. We bought it used and it doesn't have the owners manual, so we have had an ongoing debate about what the manual says is the recommended grade of fuel...
Does anyone have the owners manual that they could check and quote for me, as to settle this debate... Please?

Thanx!

Answer 1

I believe EVERYBODY should have an owners manual.
I can't help everybody, but i can help YOU!

Here's the link to download your free owners manual.
It's in PDF format, so you can save it to your computer, or print it (if you want to use up your paper & ink).
https://web.msslib.dealerconnection.com/RightSite/getcontent/myfile.pdf?DMW_OBJECTID=09000c588033c69e

Page 180 & 181 gives you the fuel recommendation (regular unleaded, 87 octane)

There now, no more debates with the Hubby!

( I think I deserve the 10 points for the "Best Answer" .....much cheaper than the marriage counciler that the 'debates ' often lead to. LOL ! )

Answer 2

Ford Focus 2003

Answer 3

Ford Focus Zx5

Answer 4

put 87 octane in it. it should be fine. if you har pinging (in summer heat, going uphill with aircondition on full blast and you foot on the gas) then go up in octane levels until the inging is gone.
It is a good idea to flush your fuel system once every six months with a fuel additive that you can buy from the likes of Pep Boys. Do not buy into the "octane booster" crap or "fuel conditioners" that the oil companies want you to beleive. And also, don't ever think there is difference between the retailers as to fuel. THEY ARE ALL THE SAME! Shell, Chevron, BP, Exxon, Mobil, Union 76 ... they all try to differentiate their brands but don't buy into it. Go for the cheaper of the bunch as you find it. Just don't fill up at the "independents" since the stuff you get may be cheaper but I guarantee it is not going to be as high a grad as the big boys. Good Luck.

Answer 5

The octane recommendation for your Ford Focus is 87 Octane regular unleaded. Premium grades, octane higher than 87 are NOT recommended by Ford. Ford always does not recommend you use any lower octane fuels, 86 or less that may be sold in higher altitude areas. 87 Octane is all you need in your Focus. Do not use any fuel additive either, especially those containing metallic compounds, or manganese based compounds(MMT). According to Ford, it should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel and the owner's manual cautions you that repairs to correct any defects as the result of using such products may not be covered by your warranty... so who won?

Answer 6

87 octane it should tell you on a sticker on the inside of the fuel door.

Answer 7

Just regular gas. 87

Answer 8

87 octane is required. anything higher and you are just hurting the environment.

Answer 9

87 octane.



2003 Ford Focus ZX5
More Options for Even More Versatility
by Larry Edsall/autoMedia.com


Ford's Focus ZX3 hatchback is one of the pillars of the sport-compact segment. Last year, the car gained two doors when the ZX5 joined the Focus family. This five-door enters its sophomore season offering more trim levels and option packages. The result is a vehicle that's more practical, popular and personalized than ever.






ZX5 mild-makeover items include restyled 16-inch wheels, gray headlamp surrounds, three additional paint colors and two new trim levels.


Like the ZX3, the ZX5 has a well-designed blend of curves and creases, of arching lines and triangular shapes. In other words, it's eye-catching. The addition of Light Tundra, Arizona Beige and French Blue to its exterior color palette should make the ZX5 even more distinctive. Other cosmetic changes for 2003 include gray headlamp surrounds and restyled 16-inch wheels.


Standard equipment includes an in-dash/six-CD changer (now with an MP3 player), fog lamps, power locks/windows/mirrors, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, tilt and telescoping steering wheels, height-adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, variable windshield wipers and an anti-theft system. The new Comfort and Premium levels allows ZX5 buyers even more flexibility to bundle options such as a moonroof, leather seats, traction control, antilock brakes and a new perimeter alarm system.


All Focus ZX5s are powered by the 130-horsepower/2.0-liter Zetech DOHC 4-cylinder engine. Its responsiveness is improved for 2003 thanks to a new throttle body, a new cylinder head that allows an increase in spark timing, reduced-load valve springs and a less-restrictive exhaust. Transmission choices are a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Other mechanicals include front MacPherson strut and rear Control Blade trailing-arm suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, 10.1-inch front disc brakes and the aforementioned 16-inch alloy wheels. On our test car, those wheels carried 205/50R16 mud- and snow-rated Firestone Firehawk GTA 02 tires.






Ford's 2.0-liter Zetech four-banger puts out 130 horsepower and enjoys several throttle-response tweaks for 2003. The ZX5's standard 5-speed transmission helps the engine achieve its full potential.


Also available on the ZX5 is a choice of two traction-control systems. AdvanceTrac, Ford's "interactive vehicle dynamics system," carries over from last year. This safety-intensive system uses aerospace technology to monitor such things as steering-wheel angle, throttle and brake position and the vehicle's directional response, then makes adjustments automatically to help keep the car from spinning out of control. AdvanceTrac is bundled with the optional antilock brakes (otherwise a $400 stand-alone option) and 10-inch rear discs (instead of old-tech drums). The only catch is that the package adds $1,625 to the vehicle's bottom line, or about 10% of the car's base price. A new and more affordable alternative for '03 is a stand-alone traction-control system.


To be really safe, you'll want to spend another $350 for side-impact airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger. Fortunately, Focus models receive "good" (the highest) ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. We say "fortunately" because many buyers likely will opt to spend $815 for an automatic transmission and another $595 for a power moonroof instead of investing in the additional safety technology.


Base out-the-door price for the ZX5 is $16,355, very competitive in the entry-level hatchback class. But our test version came with AdvanceTrac, side-impact airbags and leather seats (a $695 option). It stickered for $19,515, which almost takes the ZX5 out of what many would consider the basic-transportation price category. Opt for an automatic transmission and moonroof and you're talking more than 20 grand.


Other hatchback competitors in this price range are the Volkswagen Golf, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix and BMW Mini, which means the Focus ZX5 faces very substantial competition. So how does the ZX5 stack up?


Ford's ZX3 has been popular with young buyers who want to customize and even hot-rod their vehicles. If you can afford it, you could do the same things to the ZX5, plus have the utility of a four-door body style.






Upper-trim-level Focuses now offer a silver instrument cluster and color-keyed accents. The nicely sculpted dash and large switchgear are a highly attractive and ergonomic combination.


The ZX5 uses standard Ford switchgear, which means that its controls are large and easy to use and to find. Instruments are mounted on a nicely sculpted dashboard that, like the car's exterior, pleases your eyes with its combination of curves and angles. New for 2003 is a silver instrument cluster offset by color-keyed trim.


Two new interior fabrics are also available this year: a sporty woven material and a more luxurious textured velour. Also making its debut is a winter package that includes heated front seats and mirrors. The car's front seats still have a handy "kangaroo pouch" storage/map pocket at the front of the seat-bottom cushion, and the front door panels have large storage pockets. Another nice feature is what looks like a coin tray or small drawer in the dashboard, but when you pull it out you discover it's large and deep enough to hold your sunglasses or cell phone.


On the other hand, the cupholders in the central floor console are positioned so far forward under the dashboard that tall beverage containers may not fit easily. We also liked the pencil holder built into the center console, but we found that the armrest interfered with manipulating the 5-speed shifter. Fortunately, the armrest pivots out of the way, though such a maneuver pretty much negates its usefulness.


Speaking of the shifter, its throws are short and sure, and it allows the driver to make full use of the engine's 130 horses and 135 lb.-ft. of torque. The little engine is strong enough to induce substantial torque steer if you rev it up as you pull away from an intersection. However, that manual shifter also comes with a shift-up arrow indicator that lights up on the instrument panel to encourage you to make your shifts at very low rpm. This will enhance your fuel mileage (the EPA rates the 5-speed ZX5 at 26 mpg city and 34 on the highway) but not your driving pleasure. Enthusiast drivers will disdain this glowing arrow. Electrical tape, anyone?






Although some hatchback competitors have more usable cargo space, the ZX5's maximum 55.8 cubic feet of stuff-space is easily accessible through the rear doors and hatch.


The backseat is roomy enough for adult passengers. For maximum cargo capacity, the rear seat-bottom cushions pivot forward and the seatbacks fold flat to create a longer cargo floor, although when pivoted forward, the seat bottoms abbreviate the length of the flat cargo floor. Still, the seats were among the most comfortable we've found in any Ford. The four-door architecture makes the behind-the-back-seat and beneath-the-hatchback cargo areas much easier to use. The cabin is also two decibels quieter this year thanks to sound-deadener sprayed under the unibody and carpet underlayment.


The Focus grew on us in the week it was part of our test fleet. Its engine was perky. The manual gearbox let us explore the drivetrain's potential. The suspension and Firehawk tires provided a taut but comfortable ride. The car's curves-and-angles styling is appealing, inside and out. We just hope that buyers will focus on safety as well as the more fashionable features when they order their options.

GENERAL
Body style: compact hatchback
Vehicle configuration: 5-door/5-passenger
Airbags: front; front-side opt.
Drivetrain: front-engine/front-drive
Engine size/type: 2.0L DOHC I-4
Peak horsepower (SAE net @ rpm): 130 @ 5,300
Peak torque (SAE net lb-ft @ rpm): 135 @ 4,500
Transmissions: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto opt.
Suspension, f/r: MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar/independent control blade multi-link, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Brakes, f/r: vented disc/drum; rear disc, ABS opt.
Tires: 205/50R16 Firestone Firehawk GTA 02
Wheels, in: 16x6 aluminum
Wheelbase, in: 103.0
Length/width/height, in: 168.1/66.9/56.3
Steering: power rack-and-pinion
Turning circle, ft: 34.3
Base curb weight, lb: 2,675
Passenger volume, cu ft: 93.8
Luggage capacity, cu ft: 18.6
Towing capacity, lb: 1,000
Fuel capacity, gal: 13.2
Recommended fuel: 87 octane
EPA fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 26/34 (MT), 25/31 (AT)
Basic warranty: 36 months/36,000 miles
Base price (MSRP + destination): $16,355
Price as tested (MSRP + destination): $19,515